Chemistry - Magnesium

Introduction

• Magnesium is a shiny gray solid element.

• The symbol of magnesium is ‘Mg’ and atomic number is ‘12.’

• With approximately 80% of the world market share, China is the largest supplier of magnesium.

Salient Features of Magnesium

• The density of magnesium is two-thirds the density of aluminum.

• Among all the alkali metals of the Earth, magnesium has lowest melting point (i.e. about 1,202⁰F) and lowest boiling point (about 1,994⁰F).

• Magnesium usually reacts with water at room temperature.

• Sometimes, magnesium is also used as an igniter for thermite.

• Magnesium, when burns in air, produces a brilliant-white light, which also includes strong ultraviolet wavelengths.

• Magnesium, when burns, it produces intense bright and white light (see image given above).

Occurrence of Magnesium

• By mass, magnesium is the eighth-most-abundant element found in the Earth's crust.

• Magnesium is found usually in large deposits of magnesite, dolomite, and other such minerals.

• The soluble magnesium ion is found in the mineral water.

• After sodium and chlorine, magnesium is the third most abundant element dissolved in seawater.

• Magnesium naturally occurs only in combination with some other elements.

• By mass, magnesium is the 11^th most abundant element in the human body and it is essential to all cells and enzymes.

• Magnesium ions frequently interact with polyphosphate compounds including ATP, DNA, and RNA.

Compounds of Magnesium

• Following are the major compounds of magnesium −

  • Magnesium carbonate - MgCO₃

  • Magnesium chloride - MgCl₂

  • Magnesium citrate - C₆H₆MgO₇

  • Magnesium hydroxide - Mg(OH)₂

  • Magnesium oxide - MgO

  • Magnesium sulfate - MgSO₄

  • Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate - (MgSO₄·7H₂O)

  • Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is commonly known as Epsom salt.

Usages of Magnesium

• Magnesium has wide range of usage in our lives; however, some significant usages of magnesium are −

  • After iron and aluminum, magnesium is third most commonly used element.

  • Magnesium is especially used in super-strong, lightweight materials, and alloys.

  • Magnesium is also used as engine materials in the aircraft industry.

  • Magnesium is also used to purify the solvents; such as in preparing the super-dry ethanol.

  • Many of the automotive big brands including Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, etc. use magnesium in making their highly quality cars.

  • Because of having low weight and good electrical and mechanical properties, magnesium is commonly used in manufacturing laptops and tablet computers, mobile phones, cameras, and many other electronic components.

  • Magnesium sulfite is usually used in manufacturing paper.